A Great Day in Harlem (1994)

Director:

Jean Bach

Writers:

Jean Bach (writer)
Susan Peehl (writer)

Release Date:

24 February 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | Music

Plot:

Art Kane, now deceased, coordinated a group photograph of all the top jazz musicians in NYC in the year 1958...

Plot Keywords:

Photograph | Jazz | Esquire Magazine | New York City | African American

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Quincy Jones	...	Himself / Narrator
Dizzy Gillespie	...	Himself
Sonny Rollins	...	Himself
Buck Clayton	...	Himself
Art Blakey	...	Himself
Hank Jones	...	Himself
Art Farmer	...	Himself
Johnny Griffin	...	Himself
Milt Hinton	...	Himself
Chubby Jackson	...	Himself
Scoville Browne	...	Himself
Felix Maxwell	...	Himself
Paula Morris	...	Herself
Taft Jordan Jr.	...	Himself
Everard Powell	...	Himself

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Sweden:Btl | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Flo-Bert Ltd.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Terminal (2004)

A Great Day for Jazz Buffs

Imagine gathering 57 of the greatest legends, the creme de la creme, the absolute je ne sais quoi elite of the American art form; the people who created, shaped, formed and reformed, coddled and nursed, and were themselves that art form. The men and women of Jazz, capital "jay", in 1958. Imagine gathering not a dozen or so, but 57 of the greatest, most influential musicians of the day. In one place. At the same time. To capture one photograph.

Now try to imagine not only how difficult that feat would be, but consider that the photo shoot was scheduled for daylight hours when jazz musicians are just getting home from their all-night gigs!!

And yet, without having a real sense at the significance of the gathering at the time, one man, Art Kane, was able to accomplish that feat. What remains is not only the still black and white image of that one moment, but the moving pictures recorded before, during and after the photo was taken.

This film is a labor of love. Of love for the craft of jazz. Of love for the craftspeople of jazz. Of love for the art of jazz.

On the ode scale, which rates movies based on the total cost of seeing it versus the quality of the film itself: Definitely worth the cost of a full-price admission, plus large popcorn and large drink. Worth seeing even if you have to pay a baby sitter and a cab fare. Seeing it on the big screen is the only way to get the full impact, the full resonance of what this day represented then and what it represents to jazz lovers today.

Plus, it is pure joy to watch the Giants at play!